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Living in Lewiston, ID

Small city in Idaho

Lewiston is a small city in Idaho, home to about 34,000 people, with 122,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a slow, calm pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Lewiston a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low natural disaster risk: 3 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $387k and rents for $1,700 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 87°F

👎 Cons

  • Smaller job market: about 122,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Fewer graduates: 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Lewiston ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
34,000
122,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
43°F / 87°F
Average daily highs · 13″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$387k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,700/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
91
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,639
State income tax per resident · 0.92% property tax
Safety
0.3× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
3 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Average
Tests close to US average · 18 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
27%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
GEG
88 mi away

Living in Lewiston: common questions

What is the cost of living in Lewiston?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $387k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,700 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 91, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Lewiston?

Idaho collects about $1,639 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.92% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Lewiston safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Lewiston?

Public schools in Lewiston test close to the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 18 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Lewiston?

Lewiston has cool winters: winter days average around 43°F and summer days around 87°F, with roughly 13″ of snow a year.

Does Lewiston get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.21 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Lewiston?

The nearest major airport is GEG, about 88 mi away.

How Lewiston scores

Each bar compares Lewiston with the other 1,990 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City sizeSmall town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietSuburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundMostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureNature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateCool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAffordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceSlow & calm Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunitySome community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingMostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingGood
💸Low taxesAverage
💼Job marketPoor
🏥HealthcareGood
🏫SchoolsAverage
🎓EducationBelow average
🧸Kids & familyPoor
🐕Dog-friendlyBelow average
⛰️OutdoorsAverage
🎭CulturePoor
👮SafetyVery safe
🌪️Few natural disastersExcellent
☀️SunnyAverage
🌤️Mild summersGood
✈️AirportGood

Places like Lewiston

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

Twin Falls, IDSmall city52 $355k$1,790/moSafe Richland, WASmall city54 $419k$2,070/moVery safe Pocatello, IDSmall city51 $316k$1,630/moSafe Walla Walla, WASmall town43 $431k$2,120/moSafe Redmond, ORSmall city49 $494k$2,480/moSafe Quincy, ILSmall city40 $191k$1,330/moModerate crime

Nearby

Pullman, WACollege town · 25 mi away63 $408k$1,630/moVery safe Walla Walla, WASmall town · 68 mi away43 $431k$2,120/moSafe Spokane Valley, WASuburb · 88 mi away60 $408k$2,090/moSafe Spokane, WAMid-size city · 90 mi away51 $394k$2,090/moHigher crime Coeur d'Alene, IDSmall city · 91 mi away57 $567k$2,150/moVery safe Post Falls, IDSmall city · 92 mi away59 $500k$2,150/moVery safe

See all the best places to live in Idaho.

Is Lewiston right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.